'Unbearable' by Darkwood Films

(London, UK/Staffordshire, UK) Second Edit

Read 'Unbearable' HERE

Darkwood Films is a creative group encompassing young filmmakers from both the Staffordshire and London areas. We shot on the Panasonic DMC-GH2 and the main players for this production include Director Mark S. Wright, Producer Michael Mannion, DoP Lewis Wood and Executive Producer Leanne Natalie Jones.

Second Cut Comments... have YOUR say!

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Comments: 1
  • #1

    Ann Murgatroyd (Sunday, 23 December 2012 15:07)

    Gently sweet - and heart-breaking! Loved the way only the bears featured in focus...

'Unbearable' by Darkwood Films

(London, UK/Staffordshire, UK) First Edit

First cut: Producers notes for the filmmakers

  • Nice work – could be tighter in the less emotional places (for instance the last shot of the shop at the start is not needed). Try trimming every shot, does it make it better. Some shots wont be better, but many will. Try removing shots entirely, you will be surprised how it works better. Do this edit with music turned down of you will never let go of your current edit.
  • When he leaves, I feel like I need to see the girl with the bear earlier (shot of them in the window). The over the shoulder shot is used too many times and is not strong in the first place.
  • Music is OK, but a little laid back. I suspect with the right edit you could get a composer onboard to write something for you.
  • Try a different grade, it feels like it wants a de-saturated grade, the kind that is used a lot in TV adverts, to create a kind of nostalgia – that will also work with the hand held feel.
  • Reshoot – I feel you missed a trick here. The second hand store should have had a bear in the window, then the second bear added – together again! If you like this idea, make it happen. I appreciate the pain, but you will only ever complete once.

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Comments: 5
  • #1

    Adolf El Assal (Sunday, 04 November 2012 15:34)

    WOW, the best Unbearable movie! I love it, not too short, not too long. The mise en scene is beautiful as well as the music. cut out the last scene at the shop. Good choice for the teddy bears!:-)

  • #2

    Glyn Carter (Sunday, 04 November 2012 17:13)

    Wish I'd seen this one first - excellent and economical. Not having dialogue really works. But it could use better music, something a bit less twee. And I suggest faster cuts in the argument scene, because here it needs more energy. I thought the closing scene woud bring the bears back, but it didn't, so lose it! And if it did - lose it anyway.

  • #3

    Catherine (Monday, 05 November 2012 13:03)

    Good music and editing. I like the shop window set up, but not sure I am really involved with the bears' story. We are quite far away from them for the beginning, so I don't feel their emotion as much. Close ups might help involve the audience more? I agree about the final shot too - it could go.

  • #4

    Stephen Cooper (Tuesday, 06 November 2012 00:16)

    Really enjoyed it. Think you told the story beautifully and having no dialogue really works. Don't think you need the last shot. Finishing it on the tear drop at the window would be perfect. Great job.

  • #5

    Peter Carruthers (Monday, 12 November 2012 01:37)

    Definitely finish with teardrop shot and tighten up throughout.
    Really nicely shot with some clever manipulation of the bears by the actors.
    The argument scene is the least effective one in the film, there's little sense of pace and anger to contrast with the earlier romance. Snappier cuts and a new more dynamic soundtrack could help this.